Burger History

I enjoyed reading the piece at your site about the In-N-Out burger business. That brought back a few memories: My first contact happened when I was 5, early in the 1960s, when our family would pile in the car and head the next block over to Francisquito Boulevard in Baldwin Park to order through a speaker to get our food.

Shortly after high school I joined the Army. I became a mess sergeant (cook) and always aspired to eventually own a burger joint. I deviated in my career aspirations, however, and upon discharge I embarked in a hunt for a career in the fire service. After a few years and a few different fire departments, I accepted a job from Santa Barbara County. I was assigned to a station on Hollister Avenue. For training, we would often do our hose drills at a shuttered, decommissioned California State Smog Station on Calle Real off Turnpike. I think it was now the mid to late 1980s.

An injury threatened to jeopardize my continued employment, so I was preparing for that possibility when a thought occurred to me. I composed a letter and sent it to In-N-Out headquarters, still located in Baldwin Park. I inquired about a franchise or job opportunity, not knowing they were privately held. I also suggested that smog station as a perfect future fast food location for them. It had easy on- and off-ramps and visibility. At the time, the company was still primarily in Los Angeles.